ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Yankees manager Joe Girardi called Tuesday night's start against the Rays the biggest test of Ivan Nova's young major league career. The right-hander admitted afterward that he felt the same way.

"Yeah, it's a big one," Nova said. "I was waiting for this one, too."

Through four innings, Nova appeared ready to ace the test. But as the Yankees continue the process of evaluating who will make their postseason pitching staff, Nova suffered a rough outing the Yankees' 8-7 victory over the Rays.

In 4 2/3 innings, Nova allowed six runs, the most of his five big league starts.

"He just lost his location a little bit," Girardi said. "We like the kid's stuff, we like his poise and the way he's thrown the ball."

Working with a 6-0 lead entering the fifth inning, Nova allowed a leadoff home run to Carlos Pena, followed by a double by B.J. Upton, who later scored on a John Jaso single to make it 6-2. With Nova showing signs of trouble, Girardi seemed content to let the pitcher work out of the jam. But he didn't survive the inning.

With two outs, Nova walked Carl Crawford before Evan Longoria singled home a run to make it 6-3. With Boone Logan seemingly ready to enter the game, Girardi stayed with Nova to face Matt Joyce, who singled home another run.

Girardi said later that he preferred the matchup with Joyce instead of bringing in Logan to face Sean Rodriguez, the likely pinch hitter. Instead, Nova allowed an RBI single to Joyce with two outs. He left the game after surrendering all six runs.

"When that happens, and you've got an inning like that, I just have to slow down again because I was too quick," Nova said.

Breaking his own rules
Logan had not been scored upon since July 21. Meanwhile, pinch-hitter Willy Aybar hadn't homered since June 29. Both streaks came to an end when Logan entered in relief and Aybar blasted a three-run homer to left field.

Logan and Kerry Wood, who entered later in the game, pitched for the fourth time in five days. The moves went against Girardi's established bullpen rules.

"Kerry's a little bit more experienced, he's a little bit older, and he's been through more in his career," Girardi said. "He's more mature."

He said Logan had a light enough workload in recent days to make another appearance.

Bats come alive
In going 1-7 in their last eight games entering play on Tuesday, the Yankees offense managed to hit just .218, and had yet to homer on the trip.

But Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano and Jorge Posada homered for the Yankees. Robinson Cano, who hit a two-run homer and doubled in the gap in the sixth to tie the score at seven, knocked in his 98th run of the season, setting a new career high.

Still, the Yankees finished 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11.